N/Me E-Denial Pressure

A build using energy denial to shut down opponents, while dealing damage in the process.

Attributes and Skills

Equipment

Scar Pattern or Radiant Armor, with best Vigor rune possible.
The Stonereaper (or Similiar Staff}
Wayward Wand (Curses) and Villnar's Glove

Usage

Choose a Target.
Cast Wither -> Malaise -> Mind Wrack -> Parasitic Bond.
Cast Wither on other Casters.
Cast Ether Phantom -> Drain Delusions.
Spam Wastrel's Worry.
Repeat as energy levels permit.

Variants

Shatter Delusions for more damage instead of energy drain.
Power Leak can be used to expedite energy denial.
Signet of Humility and Shame can be used to counter enemy hex removal.
Diversion could be taken to shut down an opponent further, and synergizes well with Wastrel's Worry.
Signet of Lost Souls could be used if you run into problems with health/energy management, or other skills from the Inspiration Magic line.

Depravity Variant

For greater e-denial, but less pressure

Counters

Dazed.
Melee attention.
Ironically, energy denial can weaken this build.

Notes

Hex removal does not pose as much of a threat to this build as it may at first seem. Many of the hexes in the skillbar trigger negative effects when they end on target foe.
Focus swapping can be used to end Wither and Malaise; however, it will incur a great penalty on the target of those hexes.
This build is particularly adept at supporting other e-denial builds since it helps negate focus swapping and because it adds a little punch to builds which are normally somewhat passive.